Alan Tschetter

12 years ago my dad Alan was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). After the initial diagnosis he didn't see a neurologist again until December 2015. She ordered 3 MRIs to see how Alan's MS looks now. Our friend Dorrie went with him to all these appointments. The MRI of his head showed the same two problem areas as 12 years ago. The neck MRI showed new problem areas that the neurologist said are probably responsible for his increased difficulty walking.

The spine MRI showed no signs of MS, however it showed a 7cm long mass over his heart at his Thymus. This was December 23rd.
On December 31st Alan had a CAT scan to get a better look at the mass. It was 8.5cm long.
His doctors scheduled a biopsy for the mass on Monday January 11th at Franklin Medical Center.

On Wednesday Dorrie and Alan went to see a chest surgeon to find out the results of the biopsy. They learned that it was malignant, aggressive, and inoperable.
The doctors wanted Alan to immediately be admitted at Baystate. However, my dad thought it was too rushed. We went to midweek meeting at Woolman hill Wednesday night instead.


On Thursday, January 14th Alan was admitted at Baystate. That evening they gave him a bone marrow biopsy. Friday morning he got an electrocardiogram to see if his heart was strong enough for chemo. It was.


Friday evening we talked to an oncologist and Alan was diagnosed with Acute T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Because of the long weekend nothing much more happened until the following Tuesday. Except that I broke my dad out of the hospital to attend his Saturday meditation and to attend Quaker Meeting at Mt Toby on Sunday.


Tuesday, January 19th we met a new oncologist who should stay with us for the rest of Alan's treatment. He requested another CAT scan to make sure there wasn't any tumors in my dad's abdomen.
Alan also got a 3 pronged Hickman line for administering chemo, fluids, and drawing blood Tuesday evening.

Alan's Chemo treatment plan will include 5 days in the hospital for chemo every three weeks.